World Breastfeeding Week in the Dominican Republic

World Breastfeeding Week Around the World: The Dominican Republic WBW in other countries

Comision Nacional de Lactancia Materna de la República Dominicana
Nacional Comisión of Breast Feeding of The Dominican Republic

The CNLM was created at 1984 by a Resolution on Sanitation given by the Ministry of Health and later confirmed and defined by the promulgation of the Law 8-95 wich declares the Promotion, Education and Difussion of Breast Feeding Practice a National Priority (our law is based on the International CODE). This institution is composed of representatives of seven Secretaries of State, five Asociations and/or Societies from the Health area, twenty other institutions from the government and NGO´s, and receive permanent advising from IBFAN, UNICEF and OPS. Also, the National Comissionbut have a list of permanent personal qualified in breast feeding who works everyday in pursue of the applying the extense of the mentioned Law.

The CNLM is the institution that coordinates the activities of the celebration of the WBFW in Dominican Republic. And this is our schedule for te WBFW:

Day 1 - Press Release announcing the celebration of the WBFW with the prescense of the chairman of the Ministry of Health and CNLM members and the press. We also have a Mass at the First Cathedral of the New World at 5 pm.

Day 2 - Ofering a floral gift at the Patriotic Altar and distribution of printed educational material at Conde Boulevard ( a peatonal street at the Colonial Zone).

Day 3 – Simultaneous Conferences about the CODE in coordination with the City Hall.

Day 4 – Meeting with journalists friends of BF issue to have a conversatory about the violations to the CODE and Law 8-95.

Day 5 – Virtual Lectures in coordination with the Ministry of Education reaching eigth Virtual lecture rooms around the country.

Day 6 – The Breast Feeding Annual Walk. Done at the Malecon of Santo Domingo. We have the slogan: “Caminemos Natural hacia la vida defendiendo la Alimentacion Original” wich stands in English : “Lets walk natual toward life defending the original feeding”.

Day 7 – Recognition Event for Institutions and particulars who have supported the Breast Feeding through the year.

The National Comission of Breast Feeding plan to contribuye to the raising the quality of life of the mothers, children and dominican family; advocateing for the Promotion and Support of exclusive Breast Feeding for six months and continued with the proper nutrition until years two or more. Coordinates the actions of different sectors and institutios based on ethics principles.

Among the objectives and attributions of the CNLM are:

To procure the establishment of actions to protect and promote Breast Feeding, give the proper information and regulates the marketing mode of BF substitutes in coordination with the Breast Feeding program from the Health Ministry.

Coordinate with public and private institutions to promote programs and projects in pursue of the promotion of BF.

To promote the implementation of knowledge about BF in the educational programs from initial, basic, high school, college and informal education.

To popularize the contents of the Law and watch the implementation of it.

The analization of the labels of the BF substitutes products to accomplish the regulations of the law.

Watching the scope of the CODE and continuing monitoring of the Law 8-95.

To advise the Health Ministry to increase BF by creating national strategies, programs, updateing the BF information, production of educational material, research involving BF.

Coordinate the effort of the International agencies regarding BF issues.

We have pursued many changes in the marketing and labeling issues of BF substitutes due to our continued monitoring of the law 8-95, and the inclusion of BF in the health educational programs; we have coordinated many intersectorial programs; but we have so much to do yet on behalf of the childhood.

The work we do at the CNLM is like a snow ball, every activity generates more work, we were more efficient if we could clone ourselves, but we love this BF issues and we do this work with the deepest love, like a mother breastfeerding her child.

Comision de Lactancia Materna
Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana